POSITIVELY AWARE November/December 2011
To Tell or not? Disclosure should be made to measure. By Enid Vazquez.
How do we train the next generation of health care workers interested in LGBT health?
LGBT populations face numerous health disparities, of which HIV/AIDS is only the most widely recognized. The extent and breadth of these health disparities requires a new generation of health professionals trained to address these issues among a wide variety of LGBT populations. Accordingly, the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh initiated the first certificate program in LGBT Health in the United States in 2006. The mission of the LGBT Public Health Certificate is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the special public health challenges of LGBT populations and the scientific tools necessary to intervene to prevent these problems. These skills include the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs to improve health levels among LGBT populations, as well as the ability to conduct intervention and epidemiological research and policy analysis to enhance the health and well-being of individuals related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity/presentation. In addition, students participate in annual Summer Institutes which bring together national experts in various aspects of LGBT health. Summer Institutes have, to date, focused on violence against LGBT youth; chronic diseases among lesbians; trans health; and resiliency among MSM.
Currently, the program has about 20 students, who are studying a broad range of health problems among LGBT populations. All of the students in the program are fulfilling the requirements for the Certificate while they are completing MPH or DrPH/PhD degrees at the University of Pittsburgh. Doctoral students in the program are encouraged to work with professors to produce papers for publication, and have so far published about 35 papers as a result of these collaborative efforts. Graduates from the program are already taking positions with organizations that are conducting research and/or providing service to LGBT populations. We look forward to seeing the ongoing contributions of students and graduates of the program in terms of addressing key health issues among LGBT populations.
